How to Make a Simple Wooden Laptop Stand (Using Scrap Wood!)

If you’ve been around our shop for a while, you know we love a good scrap‑wood project. In this video, we put together a super simple wooden laptop stand using leftover pine and a couple of dowels. It’s a quick build, beginner‑friendly, and genuinely useful — especially if you’re looking for better airflow under your laptop or a more comfortable typing angle.

Whether you’re new to woodworking or just want a satisfying weekend project, this little stand is a great one to try.

Why Build a Wooden Laptop Stand?

A laptop stand does more than just look nice on your desk. It helps with:

• Ventilation — lifting your laptop allows heat to escape more easily

• Comfort — a slight tilt makes typing feel more natural

• Stability — the front dowels keep your laptop from sliding forward

Plus, this project is a perfect way to use up those small offcuts you’ve been saving.

Materials & Tools

Materials:

• Scrap 1" pine boards

• ¾" dowels

• ⅜" dowels (for the front stops)

• Wood glue

• Stain  

Tools:

• Table saw

• Drill press

• Sandpaper or sander

• Tape measure

• Duct tape (yes, really — keep reading!)

Step 1: Cutting the Side Pieces

We started by cutting two 10" pieces from our 1" pine stock. These become the angled sides of the stand.

To create the tilt, we marked the front at 1½" and the back at 2", giving the stand a gentle slope. In hindsight, I would make this angle a little steeper — probably 1½" to 2½" — but more on that later.

Step 2: Making a Quick Taper Jig

Since we didn’t have a tapering jig handy, Bryan made a quick DIY version using a straight board and duct tape. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked well enough to get both pieces close. After a second pass with the boards taped together, the angles matched nicely.

Step 3: Drilling for the Dowels

Next, we drilled:

• ¾" holes through both side pieces for the main dowels that connect the stand

• ⅜" holes near the front edge for the small dowels that keep the laptop from sliding off

For reference, the main dowel holes are ¾" up from the bottom and 2" in from each end. The smaller front dowels sit ½" in from the front edge.

Step 4: Sanding & Assembly

Before gluing, we sanded everything smooth — it’s always easier to do this before assembly.

Then we glued the dowels into place, including the two small 1⅛" dowels at the front that act as stops. Once everything dried, the frame was solid and ready for finish.

Step 5: Staining the Stand

We used Minwax Weathered Oak penetrating stain for this build. Pine can be tricky to stain evenly, and this project reminded me of that. The poplar dowels also absorbed the stain differently — one even had a slight green tint — so the final color wasn’t my favorite.

If you’re making your own, I highly recommend PolyShades Mission Oak. It has never let me down on pine.

Final Thoughts & What I’d Change Next Time

Overall, the stand turned out pretty good and works exactly as intended. It gives the laptop plenty of ventilation and a comfortable angle for typing.

If I were to build another one, I would:

• Increase the back height to 2½" for a steeper angle

• Use a different wood species or a more forgiving stain

• Make a proper taper jig instead of relying on duct tape

But that’s the beauty of woodworking — every project teaches you something new.

If you decide to make your own wooden laptop stand, I’d love to see how it turns out. And if you enjoyed this project, don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you never miss what we’re building next.

Happy woodworking!